Tackling Bahrain's rising population will be a major challenge for the health sector as demand on medical services increases.

The health outlook was outlined as His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Economic Development Board chairman, chaired an EDB meeting yesterday.

The surging cost of medical services is also expected to put more pressure on resources, the meeting heard.

A Health Ministry task force gave a presentation on an agenda to promote services. It pointed out the shortage of cadres in certain specialities as another challenge. Tackling these hurdles tops the ministry's objectives as it embarks on the agenda.

The task force also stressed that improving the healthcare sector to ensure better services, co-opting the private sector and building competences are crucial to future needs. It highlighted the importance of sustained financing and exploring alternative resources to preserve the standard of services.

The agenda includes six initiatives, drawn directly from the National Economic Strategy 2011-2014:

- Consolidating preventive health measures and enhancing awareness.

- Providing complementary services within an efficiently-built system.

- Defining efficient criteria and benchmarks for quality services.

- Ensuring quality services for all citizens.

- Consolidating the ministry's decision-making role.

- Promoting the concept of sustained health services.

HRH the Crown Prince wished the Minister, Dr Faisal Al Hamer, and the specialised team success and asked officials to submit periodic reports on progress in meeting the goals.

'A national strategic agenda to develop the healthcare sector is crucial to providing quality services and ensuring quick, tangible results,' he said.-TradeArabia News Service